{"id":10658,"date":"2024-07-14T16:44:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-14T08:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nutritional-humility.me\/oxystaging\/?p=10658"},"modified":"2024-09-29T23:16:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-29T15:16:04","slug":"about-me-part-2-non-communicable-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nutritional-humility.me\/oxystaging\/about-me-part-2-non-communicable-diseases\/","title":{"rendered":"About Me (Part 2) Non-Communicable Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h1>\n

If there is ever a topic we need to discuss right now, it is not about \u201ccost of living\u201d, housing or \u201cimmigration\u201d crisis. But \u201cnon-communicable\u201d diseases. Here in this Part 2, continues on my disclosure of health. \"Health\" however as I implore - is a sum of many parts both good and bad. The latter I find more interesting.<\/p>\n

I shall preface that I am expressing some degree of honesty that may affect some people whom I interact in the daily basis.\u00a0<\/strong> I ask for nothing but undivided empathy amongst colleagues, either past or present. <\/em><\/p>\n

Also, this is only a \u201csnapshot\u201d. Not a complete disclosure.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Subject for further revision and re-writing.<\/p>\n

Live-It-Forward,<\/p>\n

AW.<\/p>\n

1\/2 Slow COMT Gene expression \/ \"Worrier\".<\/h2>\n

In 2023, one year on as I slowly reclaimed my finances ~ I purchased what I consider to be the most expensive investment for self-health assesment ~ Nutrigenomics & Methylation consulting. <\/a><\/p>\n

Spanning throughout several months of waiting for the results, it appears I have many traits encapsulating (predominantly though not absolute) ~ typical trait as that of a worrier<\/strong>. Unsurprising, or even assuring at first. But this remains non-communicable, <\/strong>because what this effectively means, cannot be readily explained.<\/p>\n

So here is my<\/em> outline, for those unacquainted. But please beware that my understanding of methylation is at best remaining \"lay\" at present, despite numerous readings.<\/p>\n

A very brief skinny ~ on methylation.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Methylation<\/strong> is a topic I dare say - the most complicated in nutrition (and unbeknownst to many people - psychology).\u00a0Objectively speaking, to \"methylate\" or \"methylation\" ~ simply refers to any chemical reaction where a methyl group (three hydrogen and one carbon molecule) either gets added to, or subtracted from any existing molecule. But what does this mean exactly? In lay terms,<\/strong> this reaction affects genetic expression. Turning on\/off biological processes, <\/strong>which subsequents the fate and rate of protein synthesis. <\/a><\/p>\n

More importantly, what does it impacts?\u00a0 Everything. <\/strong>Psychology and Physiology. DNA repair, immune function. What I would like to focus here ~ stress handling.<\/p>\n

I find that so far there is no better analogy than this one below.<\/p>\n

Think of placing Bookmarks<\/strong> in a book. Or placing tags<\/strong> or sticky notes<\/strong> on a wall ~ to indicate or highlight certain pieces of information, or a Chapter for a later revisit or reading. Should and when - situation or circumstances compels us to \"read\" or \"open\" specific needs or context, we then look for these relevant tags, elaborate a needed information<\/strong>, then gather a course of action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We live within our environment. Thus our interactions with it, be it toxins exposure, allergens from food supply, and social interactions ~<\/strong> all act as stimulis<\/strong> compelling our needs to (again as metaphorical course of action) ~<\/strong> to compel a reaction at withstanding our live(s) against these ~ by reciting or revisiting these Bookmarks. Unpacking their contents, decipher, and decide what to turn on (or off) a complex series of reactions just to stay alive.<\/p>\n

That~ whilst grossly simplified, nonetheless resemble how epigenetics<\/strong> work. That ~ is where the tags<\/strong> as metaphorical bookmarks ~ literally attaches or sits \"on top\" (\/ \"epi\")\u00a0 of the DNA.<\/p>\n

And then there are \"methyl donors\" that comes into play. Just like we exchange ATP as currency for energy or NAD as carries ~ methyl Donors<\/strong> (Creatine<\/strong>, Phosphadytil Choline<\/strong> and SAMe<\/strong>) are also essential at carrying out the above course of actions<\/strong> ~ telling the body what to do. These \"Donors\" are exactly as they imply ~ they get exchanged and used up constantly ensuring we respond and withstand stress appropriately, to all the above circumstances and\/or events.<\/p>\n

These Methyl Donors also then impacts how we build (anabolic) and break down (catabolic) processes, throughout our waking moment. Enzymes ~ <\/strong>act as messengers to speed up or to finish~<\/em><\/strong> many biochemistry processes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And where Methylation<\/strong> comes into all these is that it affects the efficacy or expression of these enzymes. This is confounded by environments affecting and shaping us as we age.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Where-ever and however we came to be, Mutations <\/strong>inevitably (and arguably) are necessary for \"human diversity\" sake. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms<\/strong> or commonly abbreviated as \"snips\" in nutrition science world ~ describe differences and variations amongst individual genetics. And these helps explain why some people express certain propensity towards certain diseases, more than other.<\/p>\n

No - that does NOT mean one is more immune. We all carry some propensity for decline(s), one way or another.<\/p>\n

Why this fascinates me? Are the subtlety of topics people often stop talking at the water-coolers. Namely and chiefly In my case, my nutrigenomics panel suggests my predispositions towards Alzheimer's and Schizophrenia.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Certainly interesting. Yet sametime, a little unsettling.<\/p>\n

Two (sample) enzymes commonly impacted in psychology ~ COMT and MA.<\/h3>\n

Two enzymes I'm highlighting as chief examples for (mainly) psychology health ~ are COMT<\/strong> and MA<\/strong>. COMT (Catechyl O Methyl transferase), MA (Monoamine Oxidase), next to numerous others<\/strong>* control the rates of both the expression and clearances <\/strong>of Catecholamines.<\/p>\n

Fun fact\/question-for-thought = COMT and MAs are NOT JUST exclusively found in the brain. They're in the lungs, livers, kidneys and the gut<\/a>. The prevailing thought that our gut serving as the \"second brain\" might be true, after all.<\/h6>\n

Catecholamines are (dumbing this down for lay reading) ~ our fight and flight family of neurotransmitters ~ Adrenaline, Noradrenalline, Epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and dopamine. They are absolutely essential, no\u00a0 question, at withstanding against all form of stress, no matter how small. Dopamine<\/strong> also belongs here, despite misunderstood by mainstream media's labelling as a pleasure<\/strong> hormone. At a deeper level it is\u00a0 an anticipatory<\/em><\/a> hormone, that is usually expressed or active when there is a potential reward to be had, or to be expected.<\/p>\n

So where does Methylation comes in? Catecholamines may become under or over methylated, led by these genetic differences.<\/strong> Thus impacting how one reacts to stress.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Going back to COMT and MAOI as examples ~ each have their own variants. Either \"Fast\" (usually reported in nutrigenomics as \"GG<\/strong>\" or \"-\/-<\/strong>\" \/ minus-minus) or Slow\u00a0 (\"AA<\/strong>\" or \"+\/+\" \/ plus-plus). A balanced expression would be reported as \"AG\" or \"+\/-\".<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \"Slow\" refers to the slower action <\/strong>of an enzyme. This means that an elevated certain set of catecholamines may stay persistent, due to the COMT enzyme being dysfunctional by genetic inheritance, or cumulatively by epigenetic \/ environmental influence. As a result - these stress hormones do not always clear appropriately when exogenous stressors be it nutritional, environmental, and\/or pscyhosocial subsided. Not mere minutes, but days, or even years after such an event. People who are deemed Slow<\/strong> methylators (\"AA\" or ++) are hyper focused. They can be assigned to a task, and quite literally ~ can never let go, until they convince themselves<\/em> satisfied. Imposing deadlines do not necessarily work for them. They're the \"Worrier<\/strong>\". They are highly surveillant of their surrounds.<\/li>\n
  2. \"Fast\" methylation on the other hand <\/strong>refers to the opposite. Certainly a generalization here - but whenever you see people constantly tapping at their feet, rolling their eyes every few seconds ~ they are likely a typical example among the faster<\/strong> type. Easily distracted. Easily bored. The persistent thrill seeker. Flipside? They have iron resolve. They don't flinch whenever something is wrong. Something shocking about the world's news ~\"who cares<\/em>\"? They - are the \"Warriors\"<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Case in point ~ there is an observation amongst MMA fighters to have much higher proportion of Warrior-like<\/strong> SNPs \"GG\" in their genotype.<\/a> However, this does not explain other confounding\u00a0 social and\/or environmental factors, upbringing<\/strong> chiefly, as one of them. Were they \"fighters\" to begin\/born with? Were they brought-up to like<\/em> or be conditioned to desire<\/strong> to be associated in an environment of \"fighters\" to begin with? The study did also compare the MMA combat fighters<\/em> against NON-combat athletes ~ and still found a significant correlation of the more Warrior <\/strong>genes exclusively with the MMA fighters.<\/p>\n

    Nevertheless, categorising people in binary terms is generally not a good idea, if at all. Sadly, we do it anyway, subconsciously.<\/p>\n

    My genetic profile tends to ruminate. This very topic of less-communicated diseases, for instance.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    My case.<\/h1>\n

    Given my slow-er<\/em> traits of COMT<\/strong>, I tend to ruminate before making a decision. Though nevermind that in my line of work \/ my industry tends to view such opportunity as luxury<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    I can get used to anything. <\/em>Until thresholds are reached ~ I would seek something to compensate, anything ~ to ensure things are at bay. More often than not this leads to me working<\/em> until I am absolutely informed (usually at my conviction) that it is\u00a0enough<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    That seems very logical, and<\/strong> very rational, are they not? Well, despite slow COMT being thought to be a creative type, we are also the most frequently misunderstood.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

    I question<\/em> all questions I receive, before I can answer. This is because each and every conversation I enter (voluntary or not) carries a \"stake\" somewhere down the line. Be it an hour later, day, week or even five years later.<\/p>\n

    I am amongst those who absorbs and ably recall about reactions out of every interaction ~ more so ~ than remembering names of people.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Obviously, I can forgive people's mistakes. Even taking in entire people's entire failures, and correct them for which I am happy to take responsibility for, on many occassions. Knowing the universe (Karma for that matter) repays, one way or another.<\/p>\n

    However when the above gets cumulative,<\/strong> I have to at some stage, become surveillant. And that ~ is where stress comes in. The stress is how to convince the other party ~ for them to reflect on their own communication<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    When subjected or thrown to under very deep stress - that is ~ akin to being interrogated, framed into conversations unprepared, I had to invest a lot of energy to stay calm. Not just in that moment, but long afterwards as my inner surveillance<\/strong> lingers on days, weeks and months afterwards.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    I shall have to stop here. Because my industry bread-and-butter revolves on my patience on protecting and accommodating privacy, secrecy and confidentiality.<\/p>\n

    However suffice to say I hope all the above grants enough understanding. Glimpse perhaps even, on how my frame of mind \"works\".<\/p>\n

    \"\"

    Partial screenshot of referral letter request.<\/p><\/div>\n

    2\/2 Hyperacusis \/ idiopathic intolerance to one-sided sound exposure. <\/b><\/h2>\n
    \n

    This is just simply a glimpse, (of many others on top) of conditions I speculate possibly being attributed to AS<\/strong>. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Hyperacousis is once thought as idiopathic ENT (ear nose throat) illness. But has some auto-immune implications. Put it simply - intolerances from persistent exposure to single (or in worse case - both) directional sources, for hours at a time. \u201cOversensitivity\u201d, as they said it.<\/p>\n

    This also comes as part of a much\u00a0 <\/span>bigger discussion, that which I will share in Part four.<\/b><\/p>\n

    In my case I am most susceptible if the exposure is consistently that as one (1) directional source. Left or right. At certain volume, I am tolerant for hours on end. But it is a very fine line, that at certain quantity inflammation then, sets in.<\/p>\n

    Case in point. At one time (in 2011 I believe) I remembered stepping out of the office with my first ever letigimate event of vertigo<\/b>. In front of a busy pedestrian light on one afternoon, I experienced what I felt not just a mere half second, but a full one or two second of paralysis<\/strong> ~ where I quite literally, \u201cblanked everywhere\u201d. Followed by dizziness lasting minutes.\u00a0 I realised, that this response was enough. The public attention was more<\/strong> than enough. Referred to an ENT specialist ~ I was given a tour of my \u201cear\u201d for the very first time. There was indeed, some marks of inflammation - some redness, but gladly not prompting clinical attention (yet).<\/em><\/p>\n

    This sadly was brushed as inconsequential. Amongst jobs I have had (and lost involuntarily), including amongst interviews - I am confident enough to say that people generally, are not sympathetic on non-communicable diseases.<\/p>\n

    In short, if one can somehow withstand by \u201cmasking\u201d~ not mere days, but years or even decades - I envy them.<\/p>\n

    But I do not envy, and instead empathise with open ear - if they are forced to mask themselves to make ends (from all walks of life) meet together. That ~ I\u2019d wager, is sadly the communicable diseases we are yet to disclose without shame. One way or another.<\/p>\n

    Contingencies \/ What I have done (and still learning).<\/h1>\n

    This is perhaps getting somewhat lengthy. But this is my way of reconciling, at least in this concept initiative, of life's mysteries. Chiefly among them I'd wager, is navigating the unwritten, and unspoken rules.<\/p>\n

    Here is an example. There is a saying that once you are approaching 40 the world expects you to know everything<\/strong>. Bucket lists, investments, investment property(s) included. Suffice to say, I am still learning. I don't consider myself a failure, despite (expectations).<\/p>\n

    At the time of writing this, I am still also due to finish my Self-Meta on Vitamin A. Hence, what I share here are several copies of what I gathered from that write up for consolidated reading.<\/p>\n

    Psychology \/ Psycho-social settings<\/h2>\n